Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Chief Medical Officer Marny Fetzer, MD, CPE, HMDC, ABIM-HPM, FACEP
At its core, hospice isn’t as much about endings as it is about living, said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marny Fetzer. Admittedly, choosing hospice is a big decision. But, considering hospice earlier in the process helps people facing serious illness make the most of the time they do have, to embrace life as fully as possible.
Hospice addresses a patient’s discomfort and symptoms, as well as social, emotional and spiritual needs. Here, Dr. Fetzer tackles three misconceptions about living with serious illness and choosing hospice care.
Hospice is not about giving up.
Hospice is not about stopping everything. It’s about providing the best care possible, giving patients and families choices in what comes next.
The question is, how do you want to live the rest of your life? We meet patients where they are and administer care based on goals our patients have. That could mean everything from seeing a grandchild get married to bringing in medical equipment for a patient to watch the sunrise from a cherished window view. It’s different for every patient and family.
Hospice is about more than the patient.
Life doesn’t stop for caregivers. Our team can help with logistical issues-managing paperwork, obtaining durable medical equipment, caring for someone with a specific medical condition, and changing medical regimens. Through education and anticipatory guidance, we help caregivers address complexities of serious illness. Every person is an eco-system with family, friends, community groups, even pets. Those relationships amplify with a health issue.
The question is, how do you want to live the rest of your life? We meet patients where they are and administer care based on goals our patients have. That could mean everything from seeing a grandchild get married to bringing in medical equipment for a patient to watch the sunrise from a cherished window view. It’s different for every patient and family.
Hospice is more than a place.
Hospice is wherever you call home. For most of us, it would mean our residence, or perhaps a nursing home, assisted living facility or hospital.
When warranted, patients with profound medical requirements or whose caregivers need respite care turn to our inpatient center in Anne Arundel or Waldorf. Hospice is a medical benefit covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. In addition to physicians, there are nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, spiritual care providers (often called chaplains), grief counselors and volunteers, all of whom believe in this life-affirming work. We provide the right level of care for patients based on medical needs and personal goals.
